and it is the diversification of arthropods that I find most fascinating. Divergence occurs at many levels; my research focus ranges from the individual to the genus level. I use molecular tools to answer basic questions about how diversity arises. <br>

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and it is the diversification of arthropods that I find most fascinating. Divergence occurs at many levels; my research focus ranges from the individual to the genus level. I use genetics and genomics to answer basic questions about how diversity arises. <br>

==Mosquito Genomics==

==Mosquito Genomics==

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Two other sources for mitochondrial primers are the classic paper ''Evolution, weighting, and phylogenetic utility of mitochondrial gene sequences and a compilation of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers'' (Simon et al. 1994) and the more recent publication ''Incorporating molecular evolution into phylogenetic analysis, and a new compilation of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers for animal mitochondrial DNA'' (Simon et al. 2006).

Two other sources for mitochondrial primers are the classic paper ''Evolution, weighting, and phylogenetic utility of mitochondrial gene sequences and a compilation of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers'' (Simon et al. 1994) and the more recent publication ''Incorporating molecular evolution into phylogenetic analysis, and a new compilation of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers for animal mitochondrial DNA'' (Simon et al. 2006).

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==Pseudoscorpion Projects==

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==Publications==

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[[Image:Microbisium_small.jpg|thumb|left|''Microbisium'' sp.]] [[Image:Chthonius_small.jpg|thumb|right|''Chthonius'' sp.]] I have collected and imaged local fauna with the help of Evelize Codero (‘09), Elizabeth Riggles ('12) and Ashley Bonet ('12). Evelize imaged specimens collected by Dr. Raymond Pupedis, Senior Collections Manager, Division of Entomology, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. ''Chthonius'' and ''Microbisium'' are two genera found in Connecticut.

[[Image:Microbisium_small.jpg|thumb|left|''Microbisium'' sp.]] [[Image:Chthonius_small.jpg|thumb|right|''Chthonius'' sp.]] While at the UConn, I collected and imaged local fauna with the help of Evelize Codero (‘09), Elizabeth Riggles ('12) and Ashley Bonet ('12). Evelize imaged specimens collected by Dr. Raymond Pupedis, Senior Collections Manager, Division of Entomology, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. ''Chthonius'' and ''Microbisium'' are two genera found in Connecticut.

"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." (Zora Neale Hurston) and I would like to add "... that requires perseverance."

Mt. Marshall campsite

Diversification is a central theme in evolutionary biology...

and it is the diversification of arthropods that I find most fascinating. Divergence occurs at many levels; my research focus ranges from the individual to the genus level. I use genetics and genomics to answer basic questions about how diversity arises.

Mosquito Genomics

Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Eck Instititue for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame. The Severson Lab studies the genetics and genomics of mosquitoes that transmit human diseases. I study genetic mechanisms that underlie complex traits associated with bloodfeeding in Culex pipiens and Aedes aegypti.

West Nile Virus is just one disease transmitted by the Culex pipiens complex and Aedes aegypti is a vector of multiple neglected tropical diseases including Dengue and Chikungunya. As no vaccine exists for these diseases, transmission is prevented through mosquito control. A more complete understanding of the genes and genetic pathways that regulate female reproductive behaviors will inform development and implementation of vector control methods. Our ability to generate informative genetic markers (SNPs) and infer quantitative trait loci (QTL) has increased dramatically with the advent of massively parallel sequencing technology (e.g., Illumina HiSeq2000). In addition, reference genomes are available for Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti.

Aedes aegypti, JGathany, VectorBase

The Culex pipiens species complex is broadly distributed. Cx. pipiens is found across temperate zones of the world while Cx. quinquefasciatus is restricted to subtropical and tropical regions. These two members of the complex are divergent in behavioral and physiological traits despite gene flow. One physiological trait that distinguishes Cx. pipiens from its sister taxon is its ability to enter reproductive diapause. Reproductive diapause is a complex trait triggered by environmental cues. Females mate but they do not take a bloodmeal and ovarian follicle development is arrested.

Aedes aegypti is a cosmopolitan species found primarily in urban areas across the tropics and subtropics. In the canonical life cycle of Ae. aegypti, the female mates, takes a required bloodmeal, and oviposits. Autogeny is the ability for females to oviposit without procuring a bloodmeal. This complex life history trait is facultative in Ae. aegypti and occurs at low incidence levels.

I am constructing a linkage map for both Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti using SNPs developed from Illumina HiSeq2000 datasets. The linkage maps will be used to infer QTL for reproductive diapause and autogeny. The high number of informative markers enables us to map the QTL regions at a fine scale. Candidate genes within QTL will be identified and genotype-phenotype associations will be tested through knockdown experiments.

Pseudoscorpions

Pseudoscorpions, also known as Chelonethida or False Scorpions, are an understudied order of arachnids. While not well known, Aristotle made note of pseudoscorpions as did the luminaries Linnaeus and Hooke (Micrographia 1665), and today they star on YouTube. Pseudoscorpions are found throughout the world in a wide range of microhabitats including leaf litter, animal nests, under rocks (even in the intertidal zone), beneath bark, and among the pages of books. One reason many are unfamiliar with pseudoscorpions is their size, most measuring less than 5 mm. This ancient lineage, the fossil record dates to the Middle Devonian (380MYA), currently comprises 25 families, 439 genera, and 3385 species. Pseudoscorpions of the World is a great online resource at http://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions.

Molecular Systematics: Sternophoridae

Sternophoridae is one of the smaller pseudoscorpion families. Presently, there are twenty described species which sort to three genera. Taxonomic work includes a revision of the family (Harvey 1985) and a survey the fauna of Florida (Hoff 1963). The three described species endemic to southeastern USA are the focus of my current work. Currently, populations of genus Idiogaryops endemic to southeastern USA are being surveyed. Molecular data will likely reveal cryptic diversity. Origins and evolutionary relationships among populations of Idiogaryops paludis, I. pumilus, and Garyops depressus will be inferred. In addition, the geographic ranges of these species provide an opportunity to test various phylogeographic hypotheses.

Molecular Systematics: Synsphyronus

Mt. Caroline in southwestern Australia

Synsphyronus (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Garypidae) is a genus of pseudoscorpions found throughout Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia (Harvey 1987). Currently, there are 24 described species but the diversity is much greater (unpublished data). This group has been collected beneath bark, in leaf litter, and under rocks in mesic and xeric regions. Specifically, I am interested in the origin and diversification of lineages that are endemic to the granite outcrops in southwestern Australia. Only one species, Synsphyronus elegans, has been described from the outcrops, and until recently it was known only from its type locality.
My research objectives included:
• to assess the diversity of Synsphyronus on the granite outcrops of southwestern Australia
• to describe species discovered on the outcrops
• to infer phylogenetic relationships among the rock-restricted lineages in southwestern Australia
• to estimate a species level phylogeny

I have been fortunate to have had three field seasons since starting my dissertation. During my 2004 and 2006 field seasons, I visited over 100 outcrops in southwestern Australia, sampling from the ~70 populations discovered. My sampling suggests that the diversity of Synsphyronus in southwestern Australia is greater than previously recorded. I traveled across Australia to localities recorded for twelve of the 22 Australian species of Synsphyronus during the Australian winter of 2008.

Ultrastructures of the Chelicera

chelicera

Ultrastructures of the chelicera, including the serrula exterior, serrula interior, and flagellum blades, are taxonomically informative characters; I imaged these structures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The serrula exterior and interior teeth are heteromorphous. I have discovered papilla-like structures on the tips of the serrula exterior teeth. The serrula exterior is thought to be a grooming organ and the function of these ultrastructures warrants further exploration. Garypids typically have three spinose flagellum blades; the distal-most blade being the longest. The Synsphyronus samples I imaged had three blades (the flagellum shown is abnormal with only two blades). Many of the blades had structures that were more peg-like than spinose.

Pseudoscorpion Molecular Toolkit

Nuclear Genes
I have successfully isolated four nuclear genes (elongation factor 1- subunit α, wingless, actin 5C, and Internal Transcribed Spacer regions 1 and 2) from pseudoscorpions. I have designed new primers and modified published primers.

Pseudoscorpion Projects

Microbisium sp.

Chthonius sp.

While at the UConn, I collected and imaged local fauna with the help of Evelize Codero (‘09), Elizabeth Riggles ('12) and Ashley Bonet ('12). Evelize imaged specimens collected by Dr. Raymond Pupedis, Senior Collections Manager, Division of Entomology, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Chthonius and Microbisium are two genera found in Connecticut.

The image of Chthonius was featured on UConn's 'Year of Science 2009' home page in the "What is it?" column.

Science for All

Recommended Reading

December 2012
November 2012 Darwin's Gift to science and religion Francisco J. Ayala
October 2012 Parasite Rex Carl Zimmer
February 2012 The Fever, how malaria has ruled humankind for 500,000 years Sonia Shah
January 2012 This is Biology; the science of the living world E. Mayr
October 2011 For Love of Insects T. Eisner
September 2011 Broadsides from the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs S. Hubbell
May 2011 The Diversity of Life E. O. Wilson
April 2011 Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England T. Wessels
March 2011 A Sand County Almanac; and sketches here and there A. Leopold
February 2011 The Immortal LIfe of Henrietta Lacks R. Skloot
January 2011 The Botany of Desire M. Pollan
December 2010 Why Evolution Is True J. Coyne

Children's Literature
As an evolutionary biologist and a former elementary school teacher, I am interested in the literature that is available to school age children. Titles in my collection include,
Jackson, Ellen The Tree of Life, The Wonders of Evolution
Lasky, Kathryn One Beetle Too Many, The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin
Markle, Sandra Animals Charles Darwin Saw, An Around-the-World Adventure
Manning & Granstrom What Mr. Darwin Saw
Peters, Lisa W. Our Family Tree, An Evolution Story
Schanzer, Rosalyn What Darwin Saw, The Journey that Changed the World
Sis, Peter The Tree of Life

Donate Science Books

Pay your books forward. Consider donating books to groups such as Books Through Bars [www.booksthroughbars.org/]. I have accumulated several used biology textbooks and found a local group that will put them to use!